Anirudhha Potawad receives Rs. 50,001 under the Gopal and Shilpa Ved Scholarship
Many talented young chess players in India struggle financially to pursue their dreams due to the high costs associated with the game. These costs can include high-level coaching, travel expenses, tournament fees, technical needs or other. That’s why the HelpChess Foundation was established in 2018 to provide support to such players. We connect the donors and recipients in a transparent manner after doing a thorough background check. Recently, Mumbai-based chess enthusiast Manan Ved contributed Rs. 50,001 to Anirudhha Potawad under the ‘Gopal and Shilpa Ved Scholarship’. This help will put Anirudhha one step closer to achieving his dream of becoming an IM. Read the article to know more.
Financial Barriers faced by young Indian chess players
India is home to a growing pool of young chess talent. Yet many players are forced to put their dreams on hold due to financial limitations. For them, participating on the global stage or becoming a World Champion can seem like an expensive dream to imagine. These dreams require investment in traveling and coaching at higher levels. Many parents simply can’t afford these expenses and as a result, players with greatest potential find themselves restricted. Unfortunately, the surge of interest in chess has brought more attention than the hurdles many players face.
To highlight these stories, we formed the ‘HelpChess Foundation’ in 2018. We realized that while many chess players need financial assistance, there are also many people who are willing to help such players. HelpChess Foundation is the bridge to fill that gap. We conduct thorough background checks on both donors and recipients. In terms of funds, we have always maintained complete transparency and will continue to do so. We use the funds received through the HelpChess Foundation to provide technical support, educational material, top-level coaching, travel expenses, or other expenses related to the tournaments of players.
Recently, Manan Ved stepped forward to support a young player through HelpChess. He is a Mumbai-based CA and MBA graduate who is also a big chess lover. He donated Rs. 50,001 to Anirudhha Potawad under the ‘Gopal and Shilpa Ved Scholarship’. Manan started playing chess at the age of five and also participated in several school tournaments including DSO and MSSA tournaments. In 10th grade, he achieved a milestone by securing 5th place in a DSO competition. This moment is one of his fondest memories of the game.
It was the World Championship match between Anand and Carlsen in 2013 that reignited Manan’s passion for the game. It grew further during the lockdown after he watched ChessBase India and Samay Raina’s streams. He wanted to give back to the chess community in some way. Eventually, this led to him contributing to the HelpChess Foundation and supporting young players like Anirudhha Potawad.
I got to know that to make it big in chess you need funds. So, I hope that this fund will help Anirudhha to focus on improving himself and achieve his goals. - Manan Ved
Anirudhha Potawad's chess journey began in 2015 when he was introduced to the game by his father. He began learning chess by himself through apps and a local coach. He participated in some tournaments and performed impressively in many of them. A few of them are:
1. Elo rise from 1200 to 1875 between 2016-2020
2. Winner of the Late Bharatbhai Halkude Memorial All India Tournament held in 2018 in Pune
3. Winner of Maharashtra State School Tournament in 2015 and 2016
4. Winner of Maharashtra State Amateur Chess Tournament in 2018
5. Winner of the ChessBase India Club Christmas Eve Tournament in 2022
6. Winner of 2nd The Chembur Gymkhana Rapid Rating Open in 2024
7. Runner-up of the 1st Phoenix Marketcity Rapid Rating Open 2024
Yet, Anirudhha’s path to improvement was limited because of a lack of private coaching and the financial issues of traveling for tournaments. His breakthrough came when he received the ‘Pursue Your Chess’ scholarship of Rs. 25,000 in 2020. With the help of this scholarship, he received coaching from GM Vishnu Prasanna who was the coach of World Championship Challenger Gukesh. This opportunity gave him proper guidance and a chance to refine his skills. That was the first time Anirudhha was able to solve his doubts from a coach, that too from a GM.
His journey is very inspiring especially because of his humble beginning. Anirudhha always had to balance his passion with limited financial support. He has managed to improve his game and pursue his dream of becoming an IM without a regular coach. His current rating is 2281 with a FIDE Master title. He attends training camps with GM Shyamsundar twice a year during which he makes the most of it.
My target is to become an IM. For that, I want to play in good tournaments outside India. - Anirudhha Potawad
Now, with the help of Manan Ved’s contribution, Anirudhha is one step closer to achieving his goals. His story is just one of many Indian chess players’ stories. There are countless other talented players like him who face the same financial struggles. However, with the help of kind and supportive people like Manan Ved, these players are able to continue their journeys. Such contributions are creating a future where every aspiring chess player can pursue their dream without any boundaries.
Support the initiative
If you would like to support Indian chess players, please contribute via the HelpChess website. If you would like to institute a scholarship or sponsor an amount please do write to us at chessbaseindia@gmail.com to discuss the details of the same.